Kaito's face was solemn as the purple beam of light surged before him. From its violent pressure, he could sense overwhelming danger.
"Think, Kaito… now," he muttered to himself.
The thunder dragon and the massive black sword he had created floated beside him, their presence forming two layers of defense. At the same time, the chakra within his body erupted violently. The black thunder covering him burst forth, shining with dazzling brilliance, like a dark pearl radiating destructive light.
In front of him, a black-and-purple spear began to form, the raw essence of his lightning compressing into a weapon of ultimate piercing force.
With a single thought, he moved.
The thunder dragon, the giant sword, and finally the long spear all launched forward, colliding with the massive purple beam one after another.
Boom! Boom!
Two deafening explosions shook the cavern.
The aftermath spread wildly, shaking the entire underground chamber. The hardened volcanic walls above were torn open by the clash, blasting a gaping hole that revealed the bright sky beyond.
Below, the ground trembled as though an earth dragon was stirring. Magma surged upward, rolling like waves in a stormy sea.
But neither Kaito nor the Sprite spared the chaos a glance. Their eyes locked on each other and on the ongoing clash above—the battle between the purple beam and Kaito's black spear.
The Sprite's Destruction Magic Light, its ultimate weapon, tore through Kaito's two defenses, shattering them like paper. Yet even so, it remained locked in stalemate against the thunder spear.
The cavern glowed in two colors. The purple light beam stood tall and unyielding, a massive pillar as though it were a totem from the underworld itself. The black spear crackled with sharp arcs of lightning, carrying a murderous edge that seemed capable of piercing through time itself.
The air buzzed. Sparks crackled. Cracks spread.
At last, fissures appeared along the surface of the purple beam. Then with a resounding shatter, the thunder spear pierced straight through, ripping it apart from the inside.
The Destruction Magic Light collapsed, dissolving into fragments of spiritual energy before vanishing entirely.
Kaito wasted no time. While the Sprite was still stunned by the destruction of its strongest attack, the thunder spear shot forward like a streak of black lightning.
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, the spear pierced directly into the Sprite's body, pinning it onto the altar.
Crackling arcs spread out from the weapon, enveloping the Sprite in black lightning. It let out a shrill, agonized roar.
"Ahhh! No! It burns! It hurts! How is this possible? What kind of lightning is this? Why can it wound me? Why!"
The cavern shook with its screams.
Kaito descended with Shion at his side, landing before the altar. The girl raised her trembling hands, beginning the sealing ritual her mother had entrusted to her.
But before she could complete the jutsu, Kaito gently interrupted, placing a hand on her wrist. His voice was calm, yet solemn.
"Shion. Do you want to seal it… or do you want to kill it?"
She froze, startled by his words. "Kill it? Isn't the Sprite always sealed?"
Kaito's eyes hardened. "Then tell me, if it breaks free again and threatens everything you hold dear, what would you choose?"
Her lips trembled. Then she clenched her fists and said firmly, "Kill it. If we destroy it here, the priestesses of the Land of Demons will never have to live in fear again. Everyone will finally know peace."
Kaito nodded. "Good."
With a flick of his hand, he removed the small bell from her ear. This was the seal her mother Miroku had left behind, suppressing Shion's spiritual power. Only during her prophetic visions did the bell tremble and allow glimpses of the future.
"What are you doing?" Shion asked in shock. Her voice carried urgency and worry. "This is the chance of a lifetime! Why are you—"
Before she could finish, a flood of energy erupted within her body.
Warmth spread through her veins, enveloping her like a gentle embrace. It was as if her mother's spirit held her once more. Countless images flashed through her mind—the priestesses of past generations, her mother Miroku among them, smiling softly.
She understood then. This was her inheritance, the true power of the priestess line.
Her entire body began to glow, wrapped in dazzling light until she looked like an angel descending to earth.
Kaito reached out instinctively, grasping her hand. Together, their palms pressed against one another. Shion blushed faintly, but the overwhelming power coursing through her left little room for hesitation.
Between their hands, chakra surged and twisted. A sphere of light began to form, rotating with tremendous force.
The Rasengan.
But unlike any before it, this one swelled larger and larger, consuming Shion's overflowing spiritual power. In moments, a Massive Rasengan formed in Kaito's palm, shining with a brilliance that illuminated the entire cavern.
"No… no! Impossible!" the Sprite screamed, its voice filled with despair. "Don't use that! I will not be destroyed!"
Kaito's eyes narrowed, his expression unwavering.
"Shion. With me."
Together, they drove the glowing sphere downward.
Boom!
The Massive Rasengan struck the Sprite, crushing its body into fragments of light. The cavern shook violently as the monster let out one final, agonized scream before being erased completely.
But the Rasengan's power did not stop there. It tore through the altar, blasting deep into the earth below. The already unstable magma surged violently, erupting in a tide of fire.
Kaito quickly scooped Shion into his arms, leaping upward as ripples of lightning formed beneath his feet. They shot through the hole in the ceiling just as a violent eruption tore the chamber apart.
Boom!
The volcano roared to life, spitting lava into the sky. Rain of molten rock fell upon the ground, rivers of magma spilling from the crater.
At the same time, far away on the battlefield, shinobi from various nations halted their fights. The undead army crumbled instantly into dust and broken fragments, collapsing into nothingness.
On a ridge not far from the eruption, Kushina, Shion, and others stared in awe.
Shion smiled faintly, her lavender eyes glimmering. "So this… is a volcanic eruption. Beautiful."
"Yeah. So beautiful," Kushina murmured, almost entranced.
Kakashi appeared behind them with Shikamaru and Might Guy at his side. "Looks like we were a little late."
Kaito turned, still holding Shion. A small smile tugged at his lips. "Not too late at all. You still made it to see the show." He gestured toward the blazing sky.
A few days later, Kaito and Kushina escorted Shion safely back to the Land of Demons. They stayed for two days, strolling through the land and sharing peaceful moments before saying their farewells.
Then, carrying souvenirs and memories, they returned to Konoha.
An hour later, Kaito and Kushina stood once more before the village gates. In a flash, they appeared at the Hokage's office.
Inside, Tsunade, Kakashi, and the other village leaders were already gathered, their expressions grim.
Kaito's heart tightened. Something else has happened.
As he entered, Tsunade looked up, her face pale and serious. "You're back. Good work."
Kushina frowned. "Tsunade, what happened this time? Why do you look so troubled?"
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